Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
No, not that kind of baked.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                 

Better Billing Procedures

"How did you calculate that my divorce cost $82,000?"
  (+1, -2)
(+1, -2)
  [vote for,
against]

Builders and greengrocers and mechanics produce a tangible product, with an easily understood price structure.

Lawyers, consultants, accountants, web developers, etc. don't.

The idea is simple. Your lawyer's bill contains an itemised list of what went into the job:
Labour
Materials
Amortisable items (equipment amortisation or hire costs)
Prime Cost items (purchased in from an outside source, like paper).

Ordering, in the stationery department, could be fun... "We'll have 22,000 thes (including 1,000 in bold), 800 injunctions, 6 hereintofores, 1,100 leases, 250 witnesses, 4,000 apostrophes, 6,000 commas, 40 ipso factos (italic)..."

I don't know whether it would cut down on disputes over fees, but it would surely clarify what you got for your money.

UnaBubba, Feb 28 2005

[link]






       And we charge you 1000 cubits for such a specified bill.
zeno, Mar 01 2005
  

       Nice idea, but nobody would read them and there'd be an admin charge slapped on top of everything else.
DrBob, Mar 01 2005
  

       This was grist for the mill for many 'classic' comedy shows; seen in syndication currently. I personally think the herein mentioned were the portrayal of english humor at its highest art, that is, prior to the rest of the world playing catch-up, the more recent decline of western civilization, and subsequent sellout of polite society.   

       I see a trend toward unit billing that reminds me of how computing affects our conduct of business, e.g., rather than charge for the use of a suite for 12 hours the suite is charged out by three charges for room accomodations: reserved ; rather than a charge for compiling and collating 10 presentations there appear 10 charges for indirect services: document processing.
reensure, Mar 01 2005
  

       Billing for legal services is entirely arbitrary, the invoice narrative being a pleasant fiction to which the client can cling, as he prepares to remortgage.
calum, Mar 01 2005
  

       All delivered in dense, continuous, unintelligible prose. 16 years of working in debt recovery for lawyers has taught me that they don't want you to understand what they do.
UnaBubba, Mar 01 2005
  

       Rant. Legitimate rant, but nonetheless, rant. However I'm too chicken to [m-f-d] UnaBubba - he makes me feel all newbie.
wagster, Mar 01 2005
  

       Falls mighty close to WIBNI territory, I'd bet. Dunno for sure though as I avoid lawyers like, well, lawyers.
half, Mar 01 2005
  

       Better get used to them, [half].
bristolz, Mar 01 2005
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle